GALVESTON -- A huge turnout at the polls Friday surged the early voting totals in Galveston County to more than 10,000 for the March Democratic and Republican primaries. Nearly a third of the voters who cast their ballots during the two week early voting period did so Friday, according to figures released by the county’s election office.
That’s less than half as many voters who cast ballots two years ago during the primaries, but the 2008 elections where a presidential election year. The 2010 figures are about double the turnout in 2006, the last primary election that features the same offices that are on this year’s ballot.
More than 2,800 people voted Friday with almost 2,000 of them casting ballots in the Republican primary in which the three-way race for governor was the likely draw.
In fact, Galveston County Republicans went to the polls at about 2-to-1 pace compared to Democrats during the county’s early voting period with the race between Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County Republican Party Chairwoman Debra Medina probably drawing most of the voters.
Not that there are not competitive local races downticket in both parties.
For the Democrats, both congressional races are contested, as are the contests for county clerk, justice of the peace Precinct 3 and County Court No. 2. For the Republicans, Congressman Ron Paul has drawn three opponents in his primary, while there also are contested races for county court No. 1, district clerk and county commissioner Precinct 2.
With the end of early voting also comes the end of super precinct balloting. On Election Day Tuesday, voters must go to their individual precinct polling locations to vote.
Also, the polling locations are different for the Republican and Democratic parties. If history holds true, about half of the people who vote in the primaries will vote on Tuesday.
All of the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on primary election day.
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Primary Early Vote Totals
Party—2010—2008*—2006
Republicans—6,701—6,574—2,592
Democrats—3,526—19,736—3,059
Totals—10,227—26,310—5,651
* Presidential primary
Source: Galveston County Election Office, Texas Secretary of State
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